2006 BMW K1200 S problems

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE RIDING MY BMW MOTORCYCLE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE BREAK FAILURE LIGHT CAME UP. AS I APPLIED THE BREKAS, THE MOTORCYCLE PRACTICALLY DID NOT HAVE BRAKES. I MANAGED TO STOP. I BROUGHT THE BIKE TO A BMW MECHANIC AND LEARNED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE (ABS) UNIT HAD FAILED. THIS FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE 2005 AND 2006 BMW MOTORCYCLES. I HAVE ALSO FIND OUT THAT IN 2007 BMW CHANGED THE ABS SYSTEM MODULATOR BECAUSE THE 2005 AND 2006 PERFORMANCE WHEN FAILING, YOU PRACTICALLY LOST ALL BRAKE PERFORMANCE. THE NEW 2007 SYSTEM ALLOWED THE BIKE'S BRAKES TO WORK, MINUS THE ABS FEATURE, IN THE EVENT OF THE ABS FAILURE. I REACHED OUT TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY DISAPPOINTMENT, WHILE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, I REALIZED THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, BUT WAS BMW NORTH AMERICA GAVE ME STANDARD REPLIES: "THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED" AND OVER THE PHONE SAID THEY WILL NOT BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ABS SYSTEM IS UNSAFE BY DESIGN FOR 2005 AND 2006 K1200S BIKES, BECAUSE WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS THE BRAKING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE DIMINISHES TO THE POINT OF PRACTICALLY NO BRAKES. I'M LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPENED WHILE DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WITH 167 HP, THIS BIKE CAN BE DEADLY WHEN THE ABS FAILS. BMW SHOULD FIX THIS ABS MODULATOR FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #10901918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS RIDING MY BMW MOTORCYCLE IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT. THE MOTORCYCLE PRACTICALLY DID NOT HAVE BRAKES ANY AND I NEARLY CRASHED GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TRYING TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED THE MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED THAT THE THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. LATER I LEARNED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE (ABS) UNIT HAD FAILED ON THE MOTORCYCLE AND THAT THE ABS FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE 2005 AND 2006 BMW MOTORCYCLES. I ALSO LEARNED FROM THE DEALER THAT IN 2007 BMW CHANGED THE ABS SYSTEM MODULATOR BECAUSE THE 2005 AND 2006 WERE SO PRONE TO FAILURE; THAT WHEN IT FAILED THE BIKE LOST NEARLY ALL BRAKING PERFORMANCE; AND THAT THE NEW 2007 AND LATER SYSTEM PERMITTED THE BIKE TO HAVE NORMAL BRAKES, MINUS THE ABS FEATURE, IN THE EVENT OF THE ABS FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ABS SYSTEMS ON CARS HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE DESIGNED TO PERMIT NORMAL BRAKING IN THE EVENT THAT THE ABS FAILS, A FEATURE LACKING ON THE 2005 AND 2006 MOTORCYCLE. I ASKED BOTH THE DEALER AND AND BMW NORTH AMERICA TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BUT BOTH ADVISED ME THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THAT BMW WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR MY MOTORCYCLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2005 AND 2006 ABS SYSTEM ARE PATENTLY UNSAFE FOR THE ROADS BECAUSE WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED THE MOTORCYCLES BRAKING SYSTEM BECAME SO COMPROMISED THAT ONLY BY LUCK WAS I ABLE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONDUCTED SOME RESEARCH AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET RELATED TO THE SYSTEM FAILING IN UNDER FOUR YEARS, RIDERS LOOSING MOST BRAKING PERFORMANCE WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS, AND INCIDENTS WHERE THE THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS. BECAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE CAN BE DEADLY WHEN THE ABS FAILS I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THE BIKE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART....UPDATED 08/06/15 *BF UPDATED 10/25/2017

NHTSA complaint #10725881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

THE ABOVE BIKES ABS SERVO PUMP FAILED AND THIS IS COMMON AMONGST K1200S OWNERS. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE ABOVE PROBLEM HAS BEEN A RECALL IN GERMANY.

NHTSA complaint #10644893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

THE ABOVE BIKES ABS SERVO PUMP FAILED AND THIS IS COMMON AMONGST K1200S OWNERS. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE ABOVE PROBLEM HAS BEEN A RECALL IN GERMANY.

NHTSA complaint #10644893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY MOTORCYCLE STARTED LEAKING GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A DAY RIDE AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, SO THAT BY THE END OF THE DAY, GAS WAS POURING OUT ONTO THE SIDE OF MY ENGINE AND ONTO MY BOOT, PANT LEG AND FORMING A GOOD SIZE PUDDLE ON THE ASPHALT WHERE PARKED. I ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY ($550 FOR THE PART, $850 TOTAL COST INSTALLED). I WANT BMW USA TO RECALL THIS PART AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE INTERNET THREADS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MANY BMW OWNER'S LIVES ARE AT RISK OF CATCHING ON FIRE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MECHANICS AND THEY AGREE, THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING.

NHTSA complaint #10538000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TANK FLANGE. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS THE OTHERS, NAMELY THE FUEL TANK FLANGE CRACKS AND ALLOWS FUEL LEAKAGE UNDER PRESSURE WHICH ALLOWS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY DRAIN DOWN ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND THEN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND OUT THE BOTTOM. THERE IS A HEAT SHIELD GLUED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK WHICH BECOMES UNGLUED WHEN SATURATED WITH GASOLINE. THIS SHIELD THEN FALLS ONTO THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR, THEREBY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE FOIL-SIDE OF THE HEAT SHIELD TO THE ALTERNATOR. IN THE EVENT OF A SPARK FROM THE TWO MATERIALS MAKING CONTACT, THERE WOULD BE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A FIRE STARTING UNDER THE FUEL TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10535433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING FUEL. THERE ARE SMALL CRACKS AROUND A PLASTIC FITTING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. THE FITTING IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL PUMP THAT SITS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #10495307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200 S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR AND LEAKING GASOLINE ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FACE PLATE WAS FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT APPLIED A PLASTIC WELD TO THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FACE PLATE AND AFTER SOME TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FACE PLATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA complaint #10490868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL PUMP HOUSING BEGAN LEAKING AFTER A RIDE. STARTED DRIPPING GASOLINE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR ## VIN FAILED

NHTSA complaint #10485292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL IN MY GARAGE A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THREE VEHICLES IN IT. I WENT FOR A RIDE THIS PAST WEEK AND AFTER PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE I NOTICE A POOL DO FLUID UNDER THE BIKE. I STOP TO TAKE A LOOK AND IDENTIFY THE FLUID AS GASOLINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE FUEL PUMP DISCONNECTS THAT ARE LEAKING. THESE CRACKS ARE LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE MOTOR AND ALTERNATOR CREATING A FIRE HAZARD! I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE THAT MOST LIKELY WOULD OF LEAD TO SEVERE BODILY HARM OR DEATH! I AM SURE BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE UPDATED THIS PART ON THEIR NEW BIKES BUT HAVEN'T ISSUED A RECALL. ALL EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THESE INHERENT DESIGN FLAWS IN THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL PUTTING THE PUBLIC AS RISK! I BELIEVE THE NHTSA NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION FORCING BMW TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THESE KNOWN ISSUES."

NHTSA complaint #10465685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY GARAGE INTERIOR WAS FOUND TO HAVE A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. ON INSPECTION OF MY MOTORCYCLE (2006, BMW K1200S) IT WAS FOUND THAT THE GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC (AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT SURROUNDING THE FEMALE QUICK DISCONNECT) OF THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING IS A SEPARATE PART THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THIS FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED (FROM THE MOTORCYCLE) FOR A CLOSER INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE GASOLINE LEAK WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR OF THIS MOTORCYCLE (A DIRECT IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE FUEL AND FUMES).

NHTSA complaint #10449153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE BIKE HAD BEEN SERVICED ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE. I WAS RIDING A 3 MILE TRIP INTO TOWN AND NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL, THINKING IT WAS THE CAR I WAS BEHIND, HOWEVER IT INCREASED, AND WHEN I GOT TO TOWN, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS COMING FROM MY M CYCLE, AND HAD GOT VERY STRONG. I CALLED THE SERVICE PEOPLE WHO CAME AND TOOK IT AWAY. THERE WAS A FLOW OF FUEL UNDER THE TANK ON THE INSIDE OF THE FAIRING, AND THE SMELL WAS OVERPOWERING. (THE SYSTEM IS ALWAYS POSITIVE PRESSURE, EVEN WHEN NOT ON, APPARENTLY). MY MECHANIC, WHO USED TO BE LEAD MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL BMW M CYCLE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THEIR WERE FOUR CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE FLANGE, WHERE THE FUEL FLOWS FROM. IT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THEIR IS ONLY A THIN HEAT SHIELD SEPARATING THIS FROM AN OPEN ALTERNATOR, THROWING OUT SPARKS. THE VAPOR COULD VERY EASILY IGNITE. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST, BUT THE CYCLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, GARAGED AND ONLY 24000 EASY MILES, BUT THIS FAILED, AND COULD HAVE EXPLODED, THE VAPOR WAS THAT BAD. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL BMW SHOP, THEY EXAMINED THE FAILED PUMP, AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT BMW SERVICE. I HAVE EMAILED THEM 4 TIMES AND CALLED THEM 4 TIMES SINCE INFORMING THEM OF THE PROBLEM, BUT APART FROM ONE MISSED CALL WITH THEM LAST THURSDAY, I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THEIR SERVICE IS NON EXISTENT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL VAPORS, IF I WAS UNDER HIGH TOURING SPEED FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE PROXIMITY OF THE ALTERNATOR COULD LEAD TO THE CYCLE CATCHING FIRE, EVEN "BLOWING UP". THERE WERE FOUR CRACKS ON THE BASE OF THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. I THINK THEY WANT TO BLAME ETHANOL, THE LOCAL SHOP SAYS THAT IS THE CASE, BUT THEY HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 1200R SERIES AND REPLACED IT WITH METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTICS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS, I AM SURE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, IT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED AND STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #10430822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WEAVING LEFT TO RIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO WEAVE MORE NOTICEABLY LEFT TO RIGHT AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT AS THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE PARTS TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

NHTSA complaint #10324032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.